Second Person Convicted Under New Bias Crime Law Sentenced

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – A man convicted under Oregon’s new bias crime law for chasing a man with a shovel and yelling racial slurs at him has been sentenced.

The Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office says Eric Eugene Scardino Jr., pleaded guilty last week to one count of bias crime and one of unlawful use of a weapon. He was sentenced to five days in jail, three years of probation and mental health and substance abuse evaluations and possible treatment.

Portland police said they responded Aug. 29 to a disturbance and found Scardino holding a raised shovel while approaching another man.

Officers stopped Scardino from chasing the man and learned that before police arrived, Scardino had been chasing the man with the shovel and a knife while yelling racial slurs at the man, who is black.

Scardino is the second person to be convicted under Oregon’s “hate crime bill” which became law earlier this year.